01 STROLL DOWN THE BUSTLING
ALLEYS OF SOUQ WAQIF
The maze of small shops offers a dazzling array of
Middle Eastern merchandise, from spices and seasonal
delicacies to perfumes, jewellery, clothing, handicrafts
and a treasure trove of souvenir bargains. Traditional
music, art and culture shows add to the ambience
of this special place. Relax and soak up the vitality
and atmosphere at one of its eclectic mix of great
restaurants and cafes.
05 THE PEARL-QATAR, THE ULTIMATE IN STYLE
A man-made island off the West Bay coast — AKA
the ‘Arabian Riviera’ — The Pearl-Qatar features
Mediterranean-style, yacht-lined marinas, residential
towers, villas and hotels, as well as luxury shopping at
designer boutiques and showrooms. A popular dining
spot, its waterfront promenades are lined with cafes
and restaurants serving everything from a refreshing
ice cream to a five-star culinary experience.02 IMMERSE YOURSELF IN THE CELEBRATION OF
CULTURE AT THE MUSEUM OF ISLAMIC ART
Experience 14 centuries of art in a few hours. The MIA’s
imaginative displays of the finest art and artefacts from
across the Islamic world have earned it recognition
among the world’s top cultural institutions. Housed in
an architectural masterpiece designed by IM Pei, the
MIA offers an ever-changing programme of special
exhibitions. A fee may be charged for these temporary
shows, but admission to the permanent galleries is free.
03 VISIT AL ZUBARAH
Located on Qatar’s northwest coast and comprising the
immaculately restored Al Zubarah Fort and surrounding
150-acre archaeological works, this UNESCO World
Heritage Site is one of the most extensive and best-
preserved examples of an 18th- to 19th-century
settlement in the region. It covers the remains of a
walled coastal town that once ranked as one of the
Gulf’s most important pearl diving and trading centres,
with links extending to the Indian Ocean.04 KHOR AL ADAID, QATAR’S ‘INLAND SEA’
Some 35 miles from Doha in the southeastern corner
of the country lies one of Qatar’s most impressive
natural wonders, the ‘Inland Sea’, or Khor Al Adaid. A
UNESCO-listed natural reserve with its own ecosystem,
this is one of the few places in the world where the
sea encroaches deep into the heart of the desert.
Inaccessible by road, this tranquil expanse of water can
only be reached via a 4WD desert safari experience.EXPERIENCE QATAR'S
TOP FIVE ACTIVITIES
WITH
154 natgeotraveller.co.uk